SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the borough have been coming up with ideas to raise money for the victims of the tsunami.

Teachers and parents have been stunned by the children's eagerness to help in the wake of the devastating wave, which has so far claimed more than 150,000 lives.

Many of the dead and missing are believed to be children, too weak to fight the overwhelming power of nature.

Children in classrooms across Ellesmere Port and Neston joined the rest of the country in three minutes' silence at noon last Wednesday and many schools have launched collections and initiatives to help the aid effort.

Stanney High teacher Dee Stephens said: 'The pupils have been reflecting quite a lot on what has happened.

'Thankfully, we haven't had anyone directly involved but this hasn't stopped them taking it very seriously.

'We had a brilliant response to the three minutes' silence and it passed with great dignity.'

The school now plans to focus on helping the millions whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.

Mrs Stephens added: 'We are organising a fundraising working party which will be looking at long-term fundraising ideas.

We don't want to do one event and then forget about it.'

A spokesman for Ellesmere Port Catholic High told a similar story, saying: 'The response from the children, and in turn from their parents, has been very good.

'We observed the three minutes' silence and have been collecting donations form by form. The children have certainly been affected by this.'

Christ Church CofE Aided Primary School held an emergency meeting with the school's rector this week to discuss plans for a response to the tragedy.

In a newsletter sent to all parents, Christ Church head Jeanette Herbert says: 'We joined with the rest of the nation in the three minutes' silence and the children have been coming up with lots of suggestions as to what they can do to help.

'Personally, the powerful images made me stop and consider how fragile life is and what a gift it is.'